Just as he had promised, on the morning of Blaine's graduation, Kurt takes an early morning flight back to Lima. Before first period, he and Blaine stroll down the McKinley hallway together, for one last time. Then suddenly, Kurt's dipping Blaine backwards, arms encompassing Blaine's waist. Blaine's arms reflexively wrap around Kurt's neck, their lips meeting ever so softly. Blaine deepens the kiss for a moment, losing himself in Kurt's warmth. Until he remembers where they are and, startled, pulls away.
"Kurt," he warns gently. Because this isn't what they do. They had agreed on it the very afternoon Blaine had transferred to McKinley: downplay the PDA at school. It had been Kurt's idea, but Blaine had been quick to agree. They both knew that a public school in Lima isn't necessarily a safe place for them to share so little as a peck between classes. It would attract too much attention, they had thought. And, as Kurt pulls Blaine back up, Blaine sees that they had been correct in thinking so. Passing students eye Kurt and Blaine, some having even stopped in their tracks to view the rare sight before them.
"You're graduating, Blaine," murmurs Kurt, holding Blaine at arm's length now, hands resting on Blaine's shoulders. A shiver runs down Blaine's spine as realisation hits him for the umpteenth time that week. "You never have to come back here again. The low-lifes, the cowards – screw them. You'll never see them again. They can't touch you. Not any more."
As the meaning of Kurt's words sink in, Blaine relaxes into Kurt, arms hugging tight around his boyfriend's waist. Kurt leans his forehead onto Blaine's, causing the younger boy to sigh contentedly as his eyelids flutter closed.
"In a few months, you'll be in New York with me," continues Kurt softly, his voice velvety in Blaine's ear. "And you'll barely have to worry about any of this."
Blaine hums happily in reply.
"I love you," whispers Blaine, before pressing his lips to Kurt's, oblivious now to the surrounding students.
They had made it. They had lasted the year apart. It had been long, and torturous at times. But, as they had kept reminding each other, what's a year apart compared to a lifetime together? And their lifetime together was just about to properly begin.